Handling packet reordering at a network adapter

Abstract

A network adapter for handling packet reordering receives a set of packets. The network adapter is configured to aggregate a subset of in-sequence packets from the set of packets into at least one segment before passing the at least one segment from the network adapter to a next layer in a protocol stack. An in-sequence packet from the set of packets is stored into a first segment. Responsive to receiving an out of sequence packet in the set of packets, the out of sequence packet is stored in a second segment. An adaptive timeout timer is activated responsive to receiving the out of sequence packet, and the first segment is held at the network adapter while the adaptive timeout timer runs. Prior to the adaptive timeout timer expiring, a missing packet is received and included in the first segment. The network adapter sends the first segment to the next layer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates generally to a method, system, and computer program product for managing received data packets in a receiving data processing system in a data network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method, system, and computer program product for handling packet reordering at a network adapter.BACKGROUND[0002]A data network facilitates data transfers between two or more data processing systems. For example, an application executing in one data processing system acts as the sender of the data, and another application executing in another data processing system acts as the receiver of the data. Between the sender system (also referred to herein as “host” or “sender node”) and the receiver system (also referred to herein as “receiver node”), the data follows a data path that comprises one or more links between networking components, such as routers and switches.[0003]Within a data processing system, such as in the sender system...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method for handling packet reordering at a network adapter. The method involves receiving a set of packets, storing an in-sequence packet in a first segment, and activating an adaptive timeout timer. The method also includes determining whether to activate the adaptive timeout timer based on whether the out-of-sequence packet is a beginning or ending packet of a data flow chunk. Additionally, the method includes measuring the gap time between packets and using a function to determine the average gap time. The patent also includes a computer usable program product, a data processing system, and a network adapter for handling packet reordering. The technical effects of the patent include improved network performance and efficiency in handling data flows.

Problems solved by technology

A data communication link in a network can become congested when more than a threshold amount of data traffic tries to use the link during a given period.

Flow collisions, packet loss, network latency, and timeouts are some examples of problems that are caused when the utilization of a link exceeds a threshold.

Thus, the use of communication links in a network by a mix of large and small flows often results in unacceptable performance of applications and operations related to the small flows, because of the large flows.

Some data packets can be lost in the data network for a variety of reasons.

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